Tucson, AZ – Ron Barber for Congress released a new ad for the special election today, a thirty-second spot called “The Right Way.” The ad shows Jesse Kelly, in his own words, talking about his support for reducing the corporate tax rate to zero and his support for the so-called Fair Tax, a 23 percent consumption tax.

“Middle class families need someone who will fight for them—not tilt the playing field further in favor of big corporations and the rich,” Barber said. “Unfortunately, Jesse Kelly has shown that he’s just fine with tax increases for the middle class—as long as corporations don’t have to pay their fair share.”

In the ad, Jesse Kelly says, “We must get the corporate tax rate to zero,” and states, “The Fair Tax. This 23% consumption tax. I would vote for the Fair Tax.”

Barber has said repeatedly that he will vote to keep middle class taxes low, and that corporations and the rich should pay their fair share. Kelly, on the other hand, has taken a decidedly different view.

On Kelly’s campaign YouTube channel, he uploaded a March, 2010 video in which he said, “A lot of people want to know how I feel about the Fair Tax, this 23% consumption tax that’s out there right now. I’ll tell you right now, I would vote for the Fair Tax. I do support the Fair Tax.”
[Kelly4Congress YouTube Channel, Uploaded 3/5/10]

Kelly has also trumpeted his support of the so-called Fair Tax on the Jon Justice radio program. In July, 2010, Kelly told Justice, “As far as the Fair Tax goes, I would support the Fair Tax, would sign on as a sponsor immediately to the Fair Tax. […] the Fair Tax has my support one hundred percent.”

In September, 2010 he said, “I’ve also said I would support the Fair Tax because it’s better than what we have now.”

“Now that Southern Arizonans are being reminded of Kelly’s radical statements in favor of a tax policy that will hurt middle class families, we expect Kelly to deny ever having made them,” said Jessica Schultz, spokeswoman for Barber for Congress. “Sadly, that is what Southern Arizona has seen from Jesse Kelly: irresponsible ideas followed by unbelievable denials.”